Cost of Living in Durban - Updated Prices & Insights

Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $545 (excluding rent), and $1,067 including rent.

Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,290 (excluding rent), and $2,051 including rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.67 R 131

$4.55 R 77.9

$14.21 R 243

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.34 R 485

$25.51 R 437

$68 R 1,164

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.91 R 84.1

$4.32 R 74

$6.55 R 112

Cappuccino

$1.94 R 33.21

$1.11 R 19.07

$2.79 R 47.68

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 R 14.86

$0.64 R 10.94

$1.34 R 22.86

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 R 11.45

$0.48 R 8.3

$1.09 R 18.58

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 R 34.14

$1.14 R 19.51

$2.85 R 48.77

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 R 39.1

$1.43 R 24.44

$3.14 R 53.8

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 R 16.96

$0.82 R 13.97

$1.36 R 23.28

White Bread (500g)

$0.97 R 16.62

$0.65 R 11.14

$1.16 R 19.8

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.47 R 25.24

$1.14 R 19.5

$1.71 R 29.24

Eggs

$2.16 R 37.02

$1.35 R 23.07

$3.38 R 57.9

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.13 R 122

$4.35 R 74.5

$9.79 R 168

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.39 R 75.2

$2.75 R 47

$5.49 R 94

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.46 R 111

$4.9 R 83.8

$8.64 R 148

Apples (1kg)

$1.56 R 26.79

$0.86 R 14.71

$2.29 R 39.22

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 R 24.3

$0.86 R 14.69

$2.86 R 48.96

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 R 22.62

$0.55 R 9.38

$3.29 R 56.3

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 R 22.45

$0.44 R 7.6

$1.83 R 31.4

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 R 22.62

$0.51 R 8.77

$2.58 R 44.2

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 R 20.01

$0.65 R 11.17

$1.8 R 30.84

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.02 R 17.51

$0.57 R 9.81

$1.26 R 21.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.96 R 16.45

$0.75 R 12.91

$1.45 R 24.77

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 R 52.5

$2.51 R 42.95

$3.9 R 66.8

Wine (Bottle)

$4.72 R 80.9

$2.95 R 50.6

$8.86 R 152

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.44 R 24.68

$1.07 R 18.29

$2.26 R 38.66

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 R 28.78

$1.09 R 18.74

$3.01 R 51.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.58 R 27.04

$0.86 R 14.75

$2.3 R 39.33

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.9 R 649

$27.54 R 472

$82.6 R 1,415

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.64 R 28.05

$1.09 R 18.7

$1.91 R 32.73

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 R 9.87

$0.52 R 8.88

$1.56 R 26.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.58 R 113

$3.38 R 57.9

$6.58 R 113

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 R 21.98

$1.17 R 19.95

$1.46 R 25.03

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.5K R 350.2K

$17K R 291.8K

$28.4K R 486.4K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.6K R 421K

$20.9K R 358.1K

$31.1K R 532.3K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$142 R 2,437

$83 R 1,421

$277 R 4,736

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$29 R 496

$13.8 R 236

$45.42 R 778

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.34 R 571

$22.13 R 379

$55.3 R 947

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.73 R 577

$19.36 R 331

$55.3 R 947

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.28 R 159

$5.65 R 96.8

$14.13 R 242

Cinema Ticket

$6.87 R 118

$5.72 R 98

$8.58 R 147

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$203 R 3,468

$154 R 2,633

$330 R 5,642

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,523 R 77.4K

$3,308 R 56.6K

$7,167 R 122.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.56 R 729

$16.99 R 291

$67.9 R 1,163

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.59 R 524

$11.4 R 195

$57 R 976

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93 R 1,593

$38.52 R 659

$138 R 2,358

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73 R 1,250

$44.89 R 768

$140 R 2,404

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 R 6,262

$303 R 5,179

$550 R 9,416

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$358 R 6,133

$248 R 4,238

$550 R 9,418

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$753 R 12.9K

$564 R 9,654

$1,410 R 24.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$591 R 10.1K

$452 R 7,738

$904 R 15.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$805 R 13.8K

$583 R 9,973

$1,631 R 27.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$766 R 13.1K

$516 R 8,829

$1,719 R 29.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,192 R 20.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

12.01

10.5

13.2

Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update: November 24, 2025

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

City tags:

🌍 Africa

Cost of Living in Durban - Frequently Asked Questions

Durban offers a beachy, laid-back base with real value for budget-minded travelers, expats, and digital nomads. You can balance comfort and cost by choosing live-in options a short ride from the coast and using local markets for groceries. Compared with larger metros, you’ll usually find more affordable housing and everyday expenses without sacrificing access to outdoors, dining, or coworking spaces. Seasonal events can raise prices briefly, but the overall vibe remains practical and sunny. Cost of Living in Durban, South Africa tends to reward longer stays and flexible living arrangements, especially when you mix shared housing with public transit. Tip: Plan your weeks around market days and short commutes to maximize value.

Daily life in Durban centers on flexible housing, a lively food scene, and practical transport. Start with neighborhoods that fit your pace – central, Glenwood, or beachfront pockets offer different vibes and rent ranges. For housing, look for walkable options, short-term leases, or shared spaces to keep upfront costs manageable. Food runs the gamut from local markets to casual spots with generous portions and fair prices. Transport includes MyCiti buses, ride-hailing, and bike-friendly streets in many areas. Co-working and monthly passes are common, with several affordable options near the coast and city centers. Durban, South Africa living cost can shift with the season and area, so plan a buffer for peak months. Tip: Set a simple weekly budget and track it with a note app.

Quality of life in Durban grows from a flexible schedule, outdoor access, and community vibe. Build a budgeting framework around essential costs, then pad for seasonal swings in travel, events, and utilities during humid months. Neighborhood fit comes from trying a few pockets: inland hills for quieter mornings, central streets for work clusters, or coast-adjacent areas for strollable evenings. Save strategies include longer leases for better rates, shopping at markets, sharing spaces, and buying in bulk for staples. Seasonality affects both entertainment expenses and transport demands; use off-peak periods to explore more and avoid peak pricing. Tip: Set a revisit cadence for neighborhoods and adjust as you learn what fits your pace.